Symbolism

A Definition

Symbolism means the use of an symbol, whether in a visual or aural way, to represent another meaning. One area where this is very easily seen is in religion. Every religion, from Christianity to Buddhism, has one or more symbols or images that represent items in the belief system.

For example, a cross is symbolic of two things to Christians: the crucifixion of Jesus and Christianity as a whole religion. Most people look at the symbols of a particular religion, such as the cross or a Star of David in Judaism, and know which religion it represents.

Symbolism in Our Lives

Of course, symbols aren't just found in religions. They are everywhere, and in fact, they form the very basis of our lives. Everyone knows the basic important symbols of their culture, such as a red octogon representing "Stop" or an arrow that points people in the right direction. This principle doesn't end with the straightforward images you see everyday.

Symbols in Literature

Many famous authors are known for using symbolic speech in their novels and stories. In this way, the author can appear to be talking about something that seems ordinary but is really using a "code" for a more complex theme or idea. Symbolism used in this way is important because it shows how the human brain can use one set of ideas to process a different set without literal interpretation. Some novels and works of literature, such as the popular The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown spend an entire story explaining and relating to symbolic meaning.

Symbols in Art

Artists use symbols for different reasons, ranging from artistic belief to hidden meanings. For example, a rose in a painting may not just be a pretty flower; it could also represent a lover, springtime, or in some cases even death.

Symbolism is also a term that applies to a specific art movement. This arto movement started in the 1860's as a result of a rebellion against Naturalism and Realism, which represented religious and spiritual themes but left little room for interpretation. The Symbolist painters, such as Paul Verlaine, sought to create paintings that were more evocative and related to writings.

Tattoos and Symbols

As an art form, tattoos often use symbols to convey their messages. Tattooists must show a lot of meaning in a small image, so they often use symbolic messages to do this. One extreme form of symbolic tattoos can be seen in Russian jail tattoos, where different pictures have specific meanings. Some of the most common Russian gulag tattoos include those of the four suits of cards: clubs for criminal activity, spades for thieves, diamonds for "informers" and hearts as a sexual symbol.

Other Russian tattoo symbols include bells, which mean the wearer is a boss of some sort and butterflies, which indicate trustworthiness and an escape artist.

Other symbols in tattoos that are seen in the general population range from flowers, each species with its own meaning, to animals and religious symbols. People also choose to get symbols in different languages, such as kanji that mean specific sentiments. Often, these symbols are really just words or pictures with a direct meaning, but sometimes they can be less obvious and add an air of mystery to the bearer.

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